Photography and Gods Plans for me?

I did it again I blogged a post and poof it was gone.  Thats ok it was wordy and long.
so I will try and keep this one short an save it as I go along.

Pastor Ron Mulkey on Sunday preached on John the Baptist. John new who was, who he wasn't and who Jesus is and how he (John) was to make Jesus known to those around.

Me I don't have clue who I am, who I am suppose to be or how to be a light for Christ. I am flawed and a sinner and have done many things I regret and wish to change but can't.

So I started with a prayer God show me who I am in your eyes.
 I have prayed this long before the sermon on Sunday.

He showed me a passion for taking pictures. Since I can remember I snapped photo's of this or that I have rolls of film in a cubboard I need to get developed if that is even possible these days.

I love photography and have thought about starting up a business and taking on clients charging for what I love to do. I set up several online accounts for printing options thru pro sites.
 I have taken online classes and even did a mentor class with a local pro and learned more things. And got more tools to use for my passion of taken pictures.

I have done portraits for community events, family members,
and friends, it would be so easy to set up shop
 but I am not that confident in my skills.

Yes it would be awesome to be a professional photographer. 
Father is that your plan for me?

Labels from teachers family and peers like
" You will never amount to anything"
"Your not good enough!"
"Your too stupid to be a photographer!"
"Any one can take a picture and your just nobody special."
"You're a Nobody!"

  The words haunt me daily the hold me back
they cloud my judgement
and I fall prey to the words and
 try prove they are wrong.

Lord I know this isn't what you have planned for me.
Take these words and make them go away!

OH but the pride I felt when I got the compliment from a pictures with my name.
That ego boost from the job well done.
Your a natural! AWESOME picture.

Then the guilt you know the feeling when God speaks to you
and shows you you are off the target and you have done wrong;
The guilt because of the wrong way I approached
 a person a year or so ago and the awful selfish way I acted
towards my pictures. 
The haunting of the labels of the past and that tape
 I play over and over in my head of things i did wrong
and should of done.
The idea of quiting, giving up
the fear of offending someone
or that I already did offend someone
and not forgiving myself for the action even though
I asked for forgiveness thousands of time. 

Father God I need YOU show me Your Plan! 
 Not my plan not the worlds plan
but Father What is Your Plan? 

My greatest joy in taking pictures is seeing God in them. 
It could be a horse jumping the fence, the snowy mountain,
my nieces love for her fiance, the smile on the little boy,
  I see God in every picture I take.
Thats what I want people to see from my work.

No longer do I put my name on the front of the picture
 (some call it it a water mark).
 I was selfish in putting it there in the first place.
 It wasn't so people wouldn't steal my photo as
 I professed so many times but it was so people
saw it was me who took the picture,
to get that compliment to gain recognition.
Even though I never asked for money my heart
 wasn't in the right place.
Yet somehow God shines thru in each picture.

I am a person who takes pictures because
 I like taking pictures.
 I don't use photoshop it is to complicated for me
 or so I have been told never used that program,
but I do edit my pictures.
I adjust the contrast the brightness or darkness.
 I sharpen or soften.
 I don't add objects or take away things but inhance
what is already there.
 I put boarders and change from color to black and white
or use presettings but my pictures are kept as real as possible.
 My creations are all things that God has created
I just want to provide another view and memory for people.
 To show them all things GOD.

 I want to capture the smile, the jump,
 the kiss, the moment, the new family,
 the loss, the emotions of the newly wed
or the family left to remember a loved one,
 capture the emotions God gave us.
 I want to capture and give it to people for their memory.
 I know what it is like not to have the money
for the memory and I feel
as if God is calling me to give not receive.

 I asked God how I could make a difference.
 I don't have the complete answers yet.
I do know that I dont have to be the person of the labels above.

I can take and give pictures to people.

I am a child of the KING of Kings!

I want to give back not get even or make a buck. I want to be a
John the Baptist a person showing who Jesus is to the world
 and giving God the credit.

Lord is this how you see me to be?

God created me.
 God gave me the Camera,
God gave me the tools to learn how to get the picture
 and God gave me the heart to want to share and care.
I take pictures they are a tool to God's kingdom.
A door to show the folks God's perfect plan.

The pictures I take are not my pictures but HIS.

This I undestand.... how He wants me to use this I don't know.
 So for now I will continue to share my pictures in the ways He gives me to share.
 I will continue to take pictures post them and pray people see God in them.
I will continue to be human and make mistakes. I will continue to lean on Him.

Thank You Father for the Joy of taking pictures.
Your creations are Breath taking! Amen

 

Leaning, Trusting God but Praising God now is hard for me......

On June 8th my youngest son John had emergency oral surgery to drain an infection that was out of control.  It took about a week but he did get better.   He was so much better we let him volunteer as a camp counselor and go for an airplane ride Saturday.  Although he had been complaining about a different tooth hurting it wasn't swollen or as sore as the tooth a few weeks back and I thought this couldn't happen twice.

   I regret now waiting because late Saturday night the pain got worse by Sunday his other side of his face started to swell just like last time.  I got a hold of our dentist who on a Sunday opened up his office and took a look at John. 

At this point John wasn't too bad but hurting bad so to be on the safe side he put John on the same antibiotics he just came off of and got him some more pain meds then told me to get him to the specialist ASAP Monday. 

Monday morning the pain was worse the swelling is much more prominent and by his appointment with the specialist it was obvious an infection had set in again.   Again John had emergency surgery to drain the infection and hopefully reduce his pain soon.   Monday night (last night) he spiked a fever and today although the fever is down he still has one.  This is day three on the antibiotics and I am thinking he should be some better but isn't.  

I haven't slept well these past three nights.  Leaning on God and trusting him or even praising God in this trying time isn't coming easy for me.

 I am trusting God and have placed John in His hands but praising God
not so easy when I see my son hurting so. 
 Leaning on God and trusting him to heal and praying that is easy.
Then I remembered that not to long ago I read a blog of a woman
who was challenged  to Praise God for the loss of her pregnancy at 18 weeks. 
To Thank God for everything in her life including this loss.
She wrote how peaceful she felt after stepping out in faith
 her pain eased as she did praise God. 

  I thought wow she must be a strong Christian to do so.
  Now faced with my own trials I am thinking how brave of her to follow that advice to praise God during the bad.  

So Here I am struggling to Praise God for what we have been dealt with.  It isn't easy to humble myself and Thank God for this trying time but I am struggling through it and I find myself a little bit more relaxed and comforted by God's love.

Philippians 4 verses 6-7:



Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This verse tells us not to worry but pray with thanksgiving not just pray or Praise God in just in the good times.

Psalm 100, verses 1-5:

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

The verses say nothing about making a joyful noise or serve the Lord with gladness only when times are good.  They both are saying we should be doing these things all the time and HE will bring us the peace we need all the time in good and bad times.

I am so thankful that my faith is strong enough to step out and praise Him and Thank Him even though my heart is breaking seeing my son hurting.  

When I stepped out in faith and fully praised God with all of my heart I heard that still small voice reminding me God felt the same when His Son was being beat, 
 then hung on a cross for all of our Sins. 

 God knows my pain, my sorrow and my worries because HE has been there and now I am finding it much easier to Thank God for this trial.  I felt his peace just like that gal who just lost her unborn child felt the peace from her sorrows when she
thanked God for her hard times.
  It is so Very Very True that God is faithful and merciful to all who
 believe and trust in Him.

Blessing to All
Debbi

Taking the Time to Slow down & Listen to God and seeing Beauty in everything!

  I have been so busy I have accomplished nothing.
Running around and not taking the time to really listen to God's still small voice is so easy.
  Not spending time in His Word became a habit and church hasn't been a big priority for me.
Lately every time I go to church a few days later I am back on antibiotics
 and the steroids so attending a crowed worship service just doesn't appeal to me.
  Heartatude I know.

This month has been a month of changes. 
My oldest is living elsewhere for the summer for his job.
My daughter graduated from high school and is leaving for Kansas in Aug for college.
(She will be attending Barclay a Christian College)
My youngest has his own agenda and this week he has
been a camp counselor for a local Christian camp.

All this has left me feeling down.
I feel as if my family is pushing me away and I am feeling left out of everything,
from hearing their plans to being apart of those plans.
Maybe it just the prednisone (a steroid with horrible side effects). 
I just haven't felt the same since I started taking them about a month ago.
 (on again off again not a solid month of steroids).
 Maybe this is how all mothers feel when they are entering the EMPTY NEST stage of life.

 So on Friday June 17th after work I decided to take my camera out and just drive around the county.
I needed to clear my head and find God again.

It is amazing what you will see when you slow down and take the time to look.










Then there is God's Art work.  I love Sunrises and Sunsets.  I have to admit I am not a morning person and thus I miss the skies in morning.  Here is some pictures of the sunset on June 17th.




MT JEFFERSON - OREGON

THREE SISTERS - OREGON



What God has been teaching me....

Slow down and see the beauty all around! 

 No matter what you are feeling God is there!

Be thankful for everything!

There is beauty even during the ugly times you just have to open your eyes heart and mind to what God has to show you.

"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you."        Psalm 39:7


If you can't find the light because the darkness is taking over go to God and He will provide you with His comforting light!



Don't be afraid to search for God's Beauty during sad times it is OK.

Always thank God for the bad things that happen
and watch your heart change from bitter, angry to peaceful and grateful.

Daily read God's word to be encouraged and find peace, love, hope and joy!

Here is some verses that have popped out at me this week!

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him." 
Jeremiah 17:7 New International Version

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.      Isaiah 41:10

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.   Philippians 4:13

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8  (NIV)



I hope you slow down and listen to God still small voice. You will be amazed!

Prayerfully
Debbi

 

It has been a while .....

It has been a while since I have posted on this blog.
I just haven't known what to write or share with the world.
Two weeks ago I heard this song by Laura Store called Blessings.
It touched me and so I want to share her words with all of you.

(I found the lyrics here: http://www.lyricshall.com/lyrics/Laura+Story/Blessings/)

Laura Story - "Blessings" Lyrics

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise


When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home,
It's not our home


‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise

(This is not raindrops but melting snow on the windshield of our Mazda Tribute taken Jan 2011 at Mt Hood Meadows Ski Lodge)

Just remember that no matter what trial comes your way
You're not alone, and HE Cares, and HE Loves You. 
He also whats us all to know that here on earth isn't our forever home.

Heaven will be home to all those who believe in God and excepts His gift....

His Son Jesus
The one who died on the cross as a perfect sacreficed human lamb
to wash away our sins and give us a direct way to GOD!

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(KJV)

Prayerfully Yours
Debbi

Finding God in Everything, Everyday.....

Again today on my way to work I see the sun rising over the eastern hills by my house.  The sun is casting a glowing pink, organish color agains the blue gray sky. Slowly warming up the cold brisk air that greeted me this moning as I stepped out our back door on my way to my car to get my day started.

I noticed that we had a smelly back and white vistor lurking around last night.  The oder of a skunk isn't hard to forget  exspecially if you had to give the poodle a tomato bath because he thought it was a kitty to chase. 

It got me thinking about God first thing this morning. 

Why would God create an animal that was cute to look at but smells so bad? 

Then I thank God for the chuckle  of the memory of discovering our french poodle Dusty had met a skunk sometime during the night during a gold panning/dredging expitdition somewhere near Canyonville Oregon.  What wasn't so funny was the ride home in the back of the pick up with the canopy jammed pack with camping and  the gold prospecting gear in 110 degree weather with a dog that smelled like skunk!!!!

So on my way to work this morining my nose and my eyes were opened to God's handy work. Then my other senses kicked the birds singing in the near by trees. The suttle ruslting of the aging dead leaves on the ground as a gentle swish of a breese waifs by. The hooting owls that are calling each other from differnt parts of our small rual town.  The thunderous rumbling of the ground from the train engine which

roaring down the track five or six blocks away. 

The steady click click click of the tran cars is a steady rythamatic beat. 

"Wow it is good to be awake!" 

 OK if you know me you know I am not a morning person!  

 Mornings exspecially Monday mornings should be banned as far as I am concerned.

 It should be a sin that the alarm clock go off before 10am on a week day and 12pm and weekends.

But for some reason this morning was different. I was a aware of everything

the sounds, smells, sights and vibrations that greeted me this morning just made my heart sing.

  I wish I had my camera this morning to take a picture of the sunrise. 

 Remember I hate mornings and I see this sight almost everyday during the winter LOL

My camera in the morning ya right I lucky to remember my work keys.

 I have to force myself to remember to take my morning meds. 

But isn't God great.  He took this non morning person this morning and gave her beauty and music.

What did God show you today? 

God showed me there is life before 10am on a Monday morning. 

That He is present even when I don't want to be!

Have a great and Peaceful week! 

Prayerfully
Debbi 

I don't like MANS .......

Ok I know your thinking ummmmm I think she ment to type MEN.  Nope I ment mans just follow along.

I don't like MANS one size fits all interperation of the bible,
MANS biblical law, and MANS thinking about spiritual issues.

I am sorry but MANS thinking is just a little off here including my very own.

Didn't God create everyone of us to be a differnt part of the body of Christ to work together
so we can be as one for HIS kingdom?  

Doesn't that mean that what Christ has designed me to be isn't what HE designed you to be. Which means your walk with HIM isn't the walk I have with HIM!  There goes the one size fits all theroy.

Which blows out of the water the  just do these 3 steps to  acheive a perfect Christian life book or the 12 step plan to rid yourself of a deep rooted issue or sin won't fit everyone's need.  These are great tools
 but I might not need the hammer tool when all I really need a flat head screwdriver tool
to get my job done according to GOD's plan for my life!

The Bible itself teach us be seperate of this world but live to live in this world.  Where does it say that we have act, walk, talk, dress, and live all the same way?
Some of Mans interperations say we have to live by this and that.

  Yes there are some scriptural guidelines we should follow like the 10 commandments and
 for me God has asked me to wear the modest clothing (dress skirts two layers on top showing very little skin, and long hair, modest natural looking makeup or no makeup at all.
 But this for me, this is for my walk with JESUS.

   There are plently of other modest womans clothing like pant suits, and shirts that don't show off the female figure but  God is showing me how to obiedient to HIS path right now for my life.
  I don't care that you wear pants, that you cut your hair, that you wear wear make up and trendy clothes thats your path, your journey, your witness tools.

 What happend to love, joy peace and compassion?
  Treat other the way you want to be treated.
 Love the Lord Thy God as you love yourself.

What happend to the foundation of our Christain walks.
 Excepting Jesus as our savior because he died on the cross for everyone! 
Not just those who follow a mans church rules to a "T" or those who did the steps
in a book to become the perfect little Christian.  We don't all need to walk, talk, act, or dress the same to be a Christian we do need to have the right HEART to be a Christian.  

We have to be willing to see that my journey isn't your journey nor is my path a straight path.
 Nor is that journey written in stone.  God tells us differnt things and gives us differnt tools to
help us get HIS job done. We may have to take that tool out of the tool box and then putting
 it away and then brining it out again to get GODs Job done correctly.  

We have to change our hearts to hear what GOD wants of us.

 All we really have to do is to let go and let GOD guide their life.  Let God tell you what HE wants for your life.  DO we really need another book to tell us how to live, act, dress, eat, pray? 
The Bible has all that so why does MAN need another book to explain it all?   The Bible explaines it all. We just need to read it and ask GOD for HIS guidience!  NOT mans.

So why this post well I struggle with how come I have to dress act and be this way when they don't? Why does this Church want the members this way and that Church members that way . Why are people of another church against the path Jesus is taking me and not excepting me for who I am in Christ. Why is my walk so important to them that they have to point out that I am not following every word in the BIBLE.
Can MAN really be the perfect Christian and are they that perfect?

Doesn't Jesus see past these things and bring us to the real Christian belief? Why can't I say to these nay sayers that I am just a human following God instructions for my Christian Journey and I haven't been taken down that path yet or that my path is swinging around because I didn't get what wanted me to get the first time or I forgot that lesson and need a reminder of something in the past.
  Why can't I let things go and just LET GOD?  
Why does it bother me so much what Man thinks.  

Just thoughts to ponder.


Debbi

Winter is Here

Today is day two of the snow.  I am having mixed feelings about this snow.   I saw weather reports that say it is going to warm up next week and by the 24th  the snow will be gone which means yet another Christmas without snow!  

I grew up in the Midwest I don't remember not having a white Christmas.   I guess I am just wanting just a small piece of my childhood back.    So for now I will enjoy the snow we are getting!

Merry Christmas and have a Joyful Peaceful season.

Debbi